The Aligorical Aliens!

[Nerys Myk]

Romulans were supposed to be the Roman Empire if it had lasted until the 23rd century.

They took names and titles from the Romans. They took certain attitudes from the Germans circa WWII via "The Enemy Below".

 

[Shawnster]

Chekov was created to appeal to fans of The Monkees. Chekov bears a resemblance to Davy Jones. The Chekov appeasing the Soviets thing is just Roddenberry press puffery.

That's what I've always heard as well. When my daughter first saw Chekov in a TOS rerun she flipped out and thought it was Davy Jones for a second. Then he spoke and killed it for her.

Snopes has an interesting article about this.

All of this conflicting information makes it difficult to assign a "True" or "False" status to the claim stated at the top of this page. In a strict sense, one could say it isn't true that the Chekov character was added to the Star Trek cast because of a editorial in Pravda (whether or not such an editorial was ever actually published), since Gene Roddenberry had already been thinking about creating a part for "Monkees-like" actor in the show. However, one might impart some truth to the claim in the sense that Roddenberry's belief that Pravda had run such an editorial might have influenced his decision to make the new character's nationality Russian rather than British. On the other hand, one might maintain the claim is literally false, since there is no evidence (other than hearsay) that Pravda published an editorial critical of Star Trek's lack of Soviet crew members.

 

[LobsterAfternoon]

I agree with R. Star's earlier post about the Trek races not really being anyone in particular. That being said, I think you can read into them what you want, and I've sorta seen the Federation as a whole as the Western powers/NATO, with Earth as America (emerging late into the world/quadrant but quickly becoming the primary power) and the non-human Federation worlds as the various European states (similar in values to Earth/America, but older and more cautious).

 

[Nerys Myk]

I agree with R. Star's earlier post about the Trek races not really being anyone in particular. That being said, I think you can read into them what you want, and I've sorta seen the Federation as a whole as the Western powers/NATO, with Earth as America (emerging late into the world/quadrant but quickly becoming the primary power) and the non-human Federation worlds as the various European states (similar in values to Earth/America, but older and more cautious).

In TOS their origins are pretty specific and they played a particular role. They did take on a "life" of their own, though. In past threads on this topic I've put forth the idea that the Vulcans represent the Japanese in some ways. McCoy's line about Vulcan being conquered is part of this.

 

[JariM]

I agree with R. Star's earlier post about the Trek races not really being anyone in particular. That being said, I think you can read into them what you want, and I've sorta seen the Federation as a whole as the Western powers/NATO, with Earth as America (emerging late into the world/quadrant but quickly becoming the primary power) and the non-human Federation worlds as the various European states (similar in values to Earth/America, but older and more cautious).

In TOS their origins are pretty specific and they played a particular role. They did take on a "life" of their own, though. In past threads on this topic I've put forth the idea that the Vulcans represent the Japanese in some ways. McCoy's line about Vulcan being conquered is part of this.

I wouldn't draw any specific parallers between the various species in ST and the different earth nations.

The Federation or at least Earth seems to be somewhat of a socialist utopia. Equality for all, no hunger, no internal conflict* etc. It really doesnt resemble the market economy driven US or any other country of today.

(*excluding Section 31 etc.)

Klingons seem very much like a medieval society with space travel. Very much of an honor/shame society
Perhaps mixed with some European colonialism (British and Dutch Empires etc.).

The vulcan aesthetics and some customs definitely seem to be very east Asian (Japanese and Chinese). Look at these captures from ENT episode "Home" and then google traditional Japanese or Chinese home.

The influence seems very clear to me.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I agree with R. Star's earlier post about the Trek races not really being anyone in particular. That being said, I think you can read into them what you want, and I've sorta seen the Federation as a whole as the Western powers/NATO, with Earth as America (emerging late into the world/quadrant but quickly becoming the primary power) and the non-human Federation worlds as the various European states (similar in values to Earth/America, but older and more cautious).

In TOS their origins are pretty specific and they played a particular role. They did take on a "life" of their own, though. In past threads on this topic I've put forth the idea that the Vulcans represent the Japanese in some ways. McCoy's line about Vulcan being conquered is part of this.

I wouldn't draw any specific parallers between the various species in ST and the different earth nations.

The parallels aren't really specific. They pretty are broad and general, which is why they are allegorical.

 

[Push The Button]

Vulcan is America

If only, how awesome that would be.